This collection of various painters explores their lives as a symphonic overture of geniuses who chooses the brush against canvas to immortalize themselves. The whimsical strokes, the powerful rushes, the soft, immaculate renderings are all depicted as a statement of gratitude that fills the memories with wishful fantasies. This book is a collection of essays presented as an exercise in intellectual enrichment concerning great artists. The author has traveled throughout the world to visit some of the most fabulous museums in his quest to gleam a small portion of the lives of the artists whom he selected for his brief book. Two great pictures for each artists are presented in black and white line drawings: i.e. The Straw Hat for Rubens; Fishing Boat on the Beach for Van Gogh; Symphony in White #3 for Whistler; Tobit and Anna for Rembrandt, etc. With each artist, Schenck delves into their lives with a specific and original interpretation of why they drew as they did. Schenck also presents a brief analysis of the paintings. It would take a reader a lot of research to accumulate what he has presented in so brief a space. The etchings are replicated so the child may draw within - and yes, even outside - the lines to experience the wonder of reds and greens and blues on an imaginary canvas. This children's book serves to delight the young reader to learn more of the lives of the artists. This is a marvelous, succinct work.